riogrande5761 I haven't ridden any trans, but I have ridden a few trains.
I haven't ridden any trans, but I have ridden a few trains.
Just about spit out my coffee when I saw this. Lord have mercy.
I have ridden on Amtrak a couple of times as a young kid. We travelled twice from Milwaukee to Texas: one trip took us as far south as San Antonio where we were picked up by my aunt and driven (ugh!) down to McAllen to see my grandparents. That is a LONG drive.
Another time we went as far as El Paso, where my uncle picked us up and brought us to his place in Las Cruces, NM. I was young (early 80s) but I loved both rides. As a young family of 5 we couldn't afford anything but coach seats. Long way to ride (and sleep) in a coach seat! But we made the best of it and it was a blast. Except for that part where the toilets and A/C stopped working in August in St. Louis...
Andy
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Milwaukee native modeling the Milwaukee Road in 1950's Milwaukee.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/196857529@N03/
Forgot this one for total obscurity.
Saudi Arabia
2012 Riyadh to Dammam
Had my eyes peeled going through the yards to see if i could spot the observation cars from the Powattan Arrow. Seemingly this was where they went after the N&W but of course nothing. Nothing lasts over there.
I rode in a Smokey and the Bandit (Trans) Am T'Bird with a 455 under the hood in my younger days. It was quite exhilarating and exciting, almost scary as Joe was driving the car and I wasn't.
As far as trains go. Years ago Judy and I found an Amtrak coupon on a box of Wheaties and used it to take Amtrak down to Chicago and back. I think it was a promotional thing to get more people to ride passenger trains as the trip barely cost anything. The trip down was a delight as we spent most of our time in the observation car. The trip back out of Chicago, Not so Much! A rather rude and rambunctious crowd of people on the way back. Yuck!
We took the Amtrak to see my son that dropped us off at the Minot Station in North Dakota. Again a delight on the way there. High winds delayed the train for the ride back and we spent 19 hours waiting for the train at the Amtrak station. As I seem to remember Judy and I got quite bored so we walked down two blocks to the local gender and spent the rest of the time in the station passing a brown bag back and forth Well what else are you going to do in a situation like that to occupy your time?
We rode three different trains in Duluth at various times, scenic tourist trains. I don't remember what they were called. One was a Great Northern and another one a steamer that went up the North Shore. The line traveled over lots of high bridges on the rock bluffs, some overlooking Lake Superior. We had a lot of fun.
TF
ATLANTIC CENTRALOnce I got the "deluxe" shop tour because a close friend knew the gentleman there in charge of the Thomas program at the time. He has since retired.
In my "past life" in Industrial Sales, Strasburg called us. They needed a new air compressor and asked me to mail them a brochure, then they would call us to get a quote. My move was obvious; "I need to leave the office". Brought them the info and got a behind the scenes look.
Back to the original post - besides Strasburg I've riden a lot of the Pennsylvania excursion lines and SEPTA to Philadelphia.
I rode the Oil Creek and Titusville (The Valley that Changed the World), Steamtown, West Chester, Jim Thorpe, WKS and others.
Hilarious. Love it! I was trying to think of something myself.
The Milwaukee Road Warrior riogrande5761 I haven't ridden any trans, but I have ridden a few trains. Just about spit out my coffee when I saw this. Lord have mercy.
Strasburg Railroad (1970's), New Hope & Ivyland (1970's), Steamtown to Moscow, PA, behind steam (1990's)
Grand Canyon Railway, behind steam engine 4960, in stainless steel dome car, (2001)
Strasburg Railroad (several times in the 2000's)
Amtrak, Harrisburg to Philadelphia several times for work related meetings.
Amtrak Silver Meteor and Silver Star, Philadelphia to Orlando and return (circa 2005). One nice touch: they had old posters of the great ACL and SAL trains framed on the walls of the lounge car. Heritage Fleet baggage cars from the great days of American railroading were still on the head end.
And a few local dinner trains I'd prefer to forget...
I know it's not a particularly auspicious list. I was always either a college student, extremly busy with life, or otherwise not very well off financially when the really big steam like the N&W 1218 was available to see and ride behind.
Perhaps this year I'll get to ride behind C&O 1309? Always wanted to see a big mama jama articulated run, even if it is a baby compared to the really big ones.
John